According to a Validity report, 14% of consumers have left a public negative review of a company due to a poor SMS experience. This underscores the importance of delivering well-targeted and thoughtfully crafted SMS campaigns to ensure customer satisfaction and safeguard your brand's reputation.
In this blog, we’ll explore 18 promotional text message examples designed to inspire your campaigns. These examples will help you craft engaging, effective, and targeted messages that drive customer engagement and foster stronger relationships.
What is a promotional message?
A promotional message is a type of communication that businesses use to market their products, services, or offers to their customers. These messages are typically sent via channels like SMS, email, or social media and aim to drive customer engagement, increase sales, or raise awareness about a specific promotion or event.
In SMS marketing, promotional messages are usually short, attention-grabbing texts that offer discounts, limited-time offers, or exclusive deals to recipients. The goal of these messages is to prompt immediate action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a service, or attending an event. These messages can be tailored to individual customers based on their preferences or past behaviors, making them a highly effective way to connect with your audience.
How to maintain customer engagement
Keeping your customers engaged is crucial in maintaining long-term relationships. SMS marketing allows you to stay top-of-mind, but it’s important to balance promotional messages with value. Providing useful tips, exclusive content, or personalized offers will help build trust and keep customers coming back for more.
Promotional vs. transactional SMS
When it comes to SMS marketing, it's essential to understand the difference between promotional and transactional messages, as they serve distinct purposes and are governed by different rules.
Now that you know the difference, let’s explore 18 promotional message examples you can adapt and send to drive engagement and sales.
18 promotional message examples to steal and send
Now that we’ve covered the essentials, let’s explore 18 promotional message examples across various use cases. These can be customized for your business, whether you're in retail, healthcare, fintech, or any other industry.
Discount and offers
Offering discounts is one of the most popular types of promotional messages. Here are a few examples that businesses can use:
- “Get 20% off your next purchase! Use code SAVE20 at checkout. Shop now.”
A straightforward message with a clear offer and easy-to-remember code. - “Hurry! 50% off all items this weekend only. Don’t miss out!”
The use of “hurry” creates urgency, while specifying the time frame enhances the offer’s appeal.
Limited time promotions
Limited-time offers push customers to make a purchase quickly, leveraging urgency to increase conversions.
- “Flash sale! 24 hours only! Get 30% off everything in store.”
A well-timed flash sale can bring in a large number of customers in a short time. - “Today ONLY! Buy one, get one free on all shoes. Act fast!”
A "BOGO" (buy one, get one free) offer adds more perceived value to the promotion.
Seasonal promotions
Seasonal promotions allow you to tie your offers to specific times of the year, taking advantage of customers' moods and shopping habits.
- “Celebrate summer with 15% off all outdoor furniture. Limited time offer.”
A seasonal offer aligned with customer needs (outdoor furniture in summer) makes the message more relevant. - “Winter Sale is here! Up to 40% off all coats and jackets.”
Tailoring the offer to the current season ensures your message is timely and compelling.
Customer appreciation offers
Customer appreciation is vital to fostering loyalty. Showing gratitude with special offers can increase customer satisfaction.
- “Thank you for being a loyal customer! Enjoy 15% off your next order.”
Simple, sincere, and effective—this message makes the customer feel valued. - “We appreciate you! Use code THANKYOU10 for 10% off your next purchase.”
Offering a discount with a personalized message reinforces loyalty.
Exclusive offers for subscribers
By creating offers specifically for your SMS subscribers, you add value to the relationship and encourage more people to opt in to your list.
- “Exclusive deal for SMS subscribers: Get a free gift with your next order!”
This message highlights the benefit of subscribing to receive special offers. - “As a VIP, enjoy early access to our clearance sale! Shop before it’s gone.”
Exclusivity is a powerful motivator for customers, especially if they feel like they’re getting early access to a great deal.
Event or product launch promotions
Product launches and events are prime opportunities for promotional messages. By promoting these via SMS, you ensure that your audience doesn’t miss out.
- “Join us for the launch of our new product! Enjoy a special launch discount of 20%.”
Announcing a new product with a launch discount helps generate excitement and buzz. - “Save the date: Our annual sale is coming soon! Get exclusive deals when you sign up.”
Tease future promotions to build anticipation and prompt sign-ups for your SMS list.
Re-engagement offers
Re-engaging dormant customers can significantly boost your sales, as they’ve already shown interest in your brand. Use a compelling offer to encourage them to return.
- “We missed you! Get 25% off your next purchase to come back and shop again.”
A friendly and enticing message to bring customers back to your store. - “It’s been a while! Use code WELCOME BACK for 10% off your next order.”
Use a personalized message to remind customers of the benefits they once enjoyed.
Referral program promotions
Referral programs are an excellent way to expand your customer base. Offering incentives to customers who refer others can help you grow your audience.
- “Refer a friend and get a $10 credit on your next purchase. It’s a win-win!”
Encourage customers to spread the word with a simple and rewarding message. - “Get rewarded for sharing the love! Refer a friend and earn discounts on your next order.”
Offering a reward for referrals incentivizes customers to take action and share your brand with others.
Holiday promotions
Holiday promotions are a tried-and-true strategy for driving sales. Whether it’s Christmas or New Year’s, everyone loves a festive offer.
- “Merry Christmas from [Brand Name]! Get 30% off all holiday gifts.”
Incorporating the holiday spirit into your promotional message makes it feel timely and personal. - “Happy New Year! Start the year with 20% off your next order.”
New Year promotions are perfect for encouraging customers to make a fresh start with your brand.
Best practices for sending promotional text messages
To maximize the effectiveness of your promotional text messages, it's crucial to follow a few key best practices.
Timing and frequency
Send messages during optimal times—typically within business hours or late afternoons—when recipients are more likely to engage. Avoid sending messages too early in the morning or too late at night, as this can annoy customers.
Frequency is equally important. Sending messages too frequently can overwhelm your audience, while too few messages may lead to missed opportunities. A good guideline is to send no more than 1-2 promotional messages per week.
Obtaining consent: why opt-in is crucial
Before sending any promotional messages, always obtain explicit consent from your customers to ensure compliance with regulations like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and GDPR. Opt-in permissions also help build trust with your audience. Use clear opt-in messages, such as "Sign up for exclusive offers via SMS," and always provide an easy way to opt-out, like "Reply STOP to unsubscribe."
Crafting a clear call-to-action (CTA)
Each promotional message should feature a direct, clear CTA. Whether it’s “Shop now,” “Claim your discount,” or “Visit our store,” ensure that the CTA is straightforward and easy for the recipient to act upon.
Tracking the effectiveness of SMS campaigns
Tracking key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates (CTR), and conversion rates is essential to evaluate the success of your SMS campaigns. By monitoring these metrics, you can identify what’s working, make necessary adjustments, and optimize your future campaigns for better results.
Legal considerations
When using SMS for promotional campaigns, businesses must ensure they are compliant with various laws and regulations designed to protect consumers from unwanted marketing and data misuse. These regulations govern the use of SMS as a marketing tool and are in place to prevent abuse, such as spamming customers with unsolicited messages. Non-compliance can result in heavy fines, legal repercussions, and damage to your brand’s reputation.
Avoiding spam and building trust
Sending unsolicited or irrelevant messages can lead to high opt-out rates and damaged trust. To build strong relationships, ensure your SMS campaigns are targeted, transparent, and respect customer preferences.
How Plivo can elevate your promotional text messages
Plivo offers an array of features that can help businesses effectively manage SMS marketing campaigns while ensuring compliance with legal regulations. With Plivo’s robust SMS solutions, you can optimize customer engagement, reduce spam, and provide valuable communication that adheres to industry standards.
Key features of Plivo for SMS marketing
- SMS surveys for customer feedback
Use Plivo’s SMS platform to send survey links or questions, making it easy for customers to share feedback about your products or services. This valuable input can guide your promotional strategies. - Timely alerts and notifications
Plivo’s alerts and notifications allow you to send time-sensitive information to your customers, such as reminders for upcoming sales or limited-time offers. This helps you stay top-of-mind with your audience without overwhelming them with irrelevant messages, reducing the likelihood of your messages being flagged as spam. - Dynamic SMS marketing
With Plivo’s SMS marketing platform, you can automate your campaigns, segment your audience, and personalize your messages to target the right customers at the right time. - Automated replies with SMS autoresponder
Plivo’s SMS autoresponder feature allows you to set up automated responses for your customers. The autoresponder ensures that your customers receive immediate acknowledgment and further information, creating a seamless and responsive experience. - Effortless appointment reminders
If your business involves appointments or bookings, Plivo’s appointment reminder feature ensures that customers receive timely notifications about their scheduled appointments. This reduces no-shows and improves customer satisfaction while offering a valuable service to your clients.
Why Plivo is the ideal choice for SMS campaigns
Plivo helps businesses to optimize communication workflows, improve customer engagement, and ensure compliance. With tools for surveys, alerts, reminders, and dynamic marketing campaigns, Plivo delivers an end-to-end solution for your promotional needs.
Ready to transform your promotional text campaigns? Explore Plivo’s SMS solutions today and unlock new ways to connect with your audience. Start now and experience seamless, compliant, and impactful communication. Request a Trial here!
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